Radio Script #1037
Little Talks on Common Things
February 2, 1975
Through the courtesy of Mrs. Janice Baker of the Arnold Expedition Historical Society, I have recently seen some correspondence of Aaron Burr, one of the most interesting figures in Revolutionary history, who accompanied Benedict Arnold on his expedition to Quebec in 1775.
This correspondence was an exchange of letters between Aaron Burr and John Coats, a Congressman from Maryland. On March 13, 1802, Coats wrote to Burr: “I have long had it in contemplation to address a letter to you, but have frequently been restrained because your time has been and still is devoted to public service, and your every moment is precious. I, too, have had busy engagements on this bustling stage. I have vanity enough to think I possess a share of your esteem and friendship, originating from your belief that I have some claim to the virtues of truth, candor and sincerity. I detest a hypocrite, and flatter myself that no part of my past conduct can fix that name upon me.
When I see your name in the press, I feel involuntarily an animating glow, immediately brings to recollection incidents of both pleasing and painful sensations in what we have been mutually engaged and have gone hand in hand. Although there may exist shades of political difference between us, I have been your defender, and it is well known that I have spoken from intimate acquaintance with you as a soldier and a gentleman.
“Frequent reflection upon the various scenes we have encountered together, especially in the wilderness of Maine and Quebec, has led me to lament the distance that has prevented our meeting oftener. But when you next visit New York, I hope you will come this way that I may have the friendly salute of your hand. I beg you to come to Annapolis, where very commodious passage-boats constantly ply,and in a few hours you will be landed at Hadeways upon our eastern shore, from which a stage line runs to Philadelphia.
“By taking that route, you will see many of your friends. I cannot promise you romantic objects, like Caratunk Falls on the Kennebec, or such mountains as we encountered on the Height of Land before we reached Lake Megantic in 1775, but you will see a country in a high state of cultivation, a number of towns, the most of which bear evident marks of daily improvement. Between those towns are gentlemen’s estates, some beautifully situated, and the inhabitants courteous and hospitable.
“If you do not travel in your own carriage, you will find the horses and carriages here equal to any others, the public houses comfortable, the country abounding with the good things of this world, and the roads good, having gentle ascents and descents, quite unlike the Indian paths we encountered on our carries from the Kennebec to the Dead River.
“My friends, Robert Wright of the Senate and Joseph Nicholson of the House, who live directly on the road from Hadeways, will confirm what I have written. Let me once again enjoy your company at my own hermitage in Easton. I shall be gratified by introducing the old lady, my two girls, and my boy to the companion of my youth. They will endeavor to make their lillapee of a superior savor to what our cooks with Arnold could do for us. And although, as Partridge says, “non sum qualis ercen” (I am not as I once was) I shall certainly use my best exertions to render your stay agreeable.
Your sincere old friend, John Coats”
Burr replied to Coats on Feb. 23, 1803.
“It is from me, dear sir, that apologies are due, but you have kindly anticipated all I could make. I thank you for your friendly recollection, and especially for the stir you bring to my heart and feelings. Another letter came from you today, and I am resolved not to furnish a new occasion by further negligence.
“Whether, after our adjournment of Congress, I shall go north or south is not yet determined. If north, I promise to take the route you have described, and pass at least a few hours with you. I shall indeed insist on a dish of lillipee in order to give more dramatic effect to the review we will make of past scenes.
“Dearborn, now Minister of War, was our fellow traveller through the Maine wilderness. Accept, I pray you, the assurance of my undiminished regard and esteem. A. Burr”
What was the dish called lillipee, referred to in both Coats’ and Burr’s letters? Coats spelled it with an “a” – lillapee, which Burr spelled it with an “i” – lillipee. It was an edible liliaceous plant; that is, a plant of the lily family, probably an early form of asparagus. In that valuable reference book, Atwood’s “Length and Breadth of Maine,” is a long list of plants indigenous to our state. Under the lily family are listed chives, wood leak and garden asparagus. All editions of Webster’s Dictionary define asparagus as “any plant of the liliaceous genus asparagus.” It then adds, “Asparagus officinalis is cultivated for its edible shoots.”
What John Coats and Aaron Burr ate on Arnold’s expedition, and wanted to try again with better cooks, was probably asparagus.
Mrs. Robert Chapman of Edgartown, Hass., a member of Waterville’s Penney family that dates back to our earliest settlers, has given to the Waterville Historical Society a number of family papers.
One is a map of, the Penney property in Waterville, including the historic family homestead on Penney Hill, near the present site of the complex of doctors’ offices, and extending west to what is now Washington Street. Another document is the deed to Moses Penney, in 1861, of a lot in Pine Grove Cemetery, signed by Solyman Heath as town clerk. Other papers include promissory notes, tax receipts, and bills. Moses Penney paid W. A.F. Stevens $75 for five sets of gravestones. Stevens was a deacon of the Baptist church, held at various times several town offices, and had the bitter experience of losing two sons in the Civil War. In an old directory he is described as maker of marble monuments, gravestones, tablets, table and counter tops.
Fruit trees were cheap in 1870. Hoses Penney bought 50 apple trees, 2 plum trees, and one cherry tree, all for $12.56.
On Front Street, in 1870, A. B. Clement painted carriages, sleighs and signs. Fred Penney paid Clement $34.50 for one paint job of $6.
When Moses Penney died, Redington and Co., undertakers, sent his estate a bill $33.50. The items were casket, $18, Box $2, Robe $5, Plate $2.50, hearse and burial
The Penneys long subscribed to the Maine Farmer at $1.75 a year. It was published in Augusta and announced that the firm also did book and job printings on reasonable terms.
One job that cost Fred Penney nearly $100 was when Sumner Rowe turned around, moved and hoisted Penney’s barn. Sumner Rowe’s Waterville ad said: “Wood and brick buildings raised and moved. Also boilers, heavy machinery, and polishing stone work and blasting. Stone furnished.”
Penney sold to Benson Wing a milk cart for $5.
The Penneys sometimes cut ice on the Kennebec. One bill read: “Young and Chalmers, to 148 lb. ice on the river at $5 per cwt, $7.40.
Once Moses Penney paid Josiah Magoon $5 for sawing shingles. In 1864 freight on the Maine Central for a mowing machine cost him 83 cents.
In 1867 Moses Penney paid fire insurance of $5.46 “for a policy in the second class of Waterville Fire Insurance Co.” Does anyone know what was meant by that phrase, in second class”?
A bill of numerous items from Z. F. Dingley to Moses Penney in 1874 tells us something about wages and prices in Waterville a hundred years ago. An unskilled workman got 75 cents a day, a better skilled man got $1 a day. It cost ten cents to have a saw filed, 25 cents to get a barrel hooped. Dingley made Penney a screen door, wood, screen and labor, all for 50 cents. For Dingley’s boy, Penney paid only 50 cents a day. Penney paid Dingley chiefly in lumber: 1,350 feet of scantling, 346 feet of pine, 74 feet of basswood, 120 feet of oak, all for $21, to which Penney added 25 cents in cash to settle the account.
At the turn of the century the Penneys were in the milk business. In 1902 they sold to B. F. Towne 23 cans of milk at 35 cents a can. Evidently the Penneys had bought the milk business of R. A. Call, for in 1899. Call had written to Penney: “I will put into the sale of milk stock 15 cans, 2 milk carts, 1 milk pung, 3 milk pails, 17 tie chains and fixtures. I also promise not to go into the milk business in Waterville for the next ten years.”
In 1880 the Penneys bought phosphate from George Flood – 556 pounds for $7.75.
When Moses Penney died, his casket, box and plate had cost $22.50. Joseph Penney’s estate got off for less. His cost $15.50.
Mrs. Chapman recalls her father telling about a spectacular fire that happened when he was a boy – the burning of one of the Penney farms at what is now the corner of Kennedy Drive and Washington Street.
And with these records of an old and distinguished family of Waterville, we say goodbye until next week.
Year: 1975